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January 31, 2015

India on Saturday successfully test-fired its indigenously
developed, intercontinental surface-to-surface nuclear capable ballistic
missile 'Agni-5', which has a strike range of over 5000 kms and can
carry a nuclear warhead of over one tonne, from Wheeler's Island off
Odisha coast.
The three stage, solid propellant "missile was test-fired from a
mobile launcher from the launch complex-4 of the Integrated Test Range
(ITR) at about 8.06 hours," ITR Director M V K V Prasad said.
Prasad told that the canister version of Agni-5 missile was successfully test launched.
"The missile, witnessed a flawless 'auto launch' and detailed results
will be known after all data retrieved from different radars and
network systems."
An eye-witness said, "The sleek missile, just within a few
seconds of its blast-off from the Island launchpad roared majestically
into a clear sunny sky leaving behind in its trajectory a trail of thin
orange and white column of smoke and within seconds it pierced the sky".
This launch was the third developmental trial of the long range
missile. The first test was conducted on 19 April, 2012 and the second
test on 15 September, 2013 from the same base.
The indigenously developed surface-to-surface missile Agni-5 is
capable of striking a range more than 5000 km. It is about 17 meters
long, 2 metres wide and has a launch weight of around 50 tonnes. The
missile can carry a nuclear warhead of more than one tonne.
Unlike other missiles of Agni series, the latest one 'AGNI-5', is
most advanced having some new technologies incorporated with it in
terms of navigation and guidance, warhead and engine, Prasad said.
"Lot of new technologies developed indigenously were successfully
tested in the first Agni-5 trial. The very high accuracy Ring Laser
Gyro based Inertial Navigation System (RINS) and the most modern and
accurate Micro Navigation System (MINS) had ensured the Missile reach
the target point within few meters of accuracy.
"The high speed onboard computer and fault tolerant software
along with robust and reliable bus guided the missile flawlessly," said
an official.
India has at present in its armoury of Agni series, Agni-1 with
700 km range, Agni-2 with 2000 km range, Agni-3 and Agni-4 with 2500 km
to more than 3500 range. After a few more trials, Agni-5 will be
inducted into the services.

With the first production series LCA Tejas Mk.1 handed over to the IAF,
and with more in the pipeline this year for squadron service first in
Bengaluru and then Sulur in Tamil Nadu, this year’s Aero India will fix
the spotlight on the LCA Mk.2.

With final operational clearance
on the LCA Mk.1 for the Indian Air Force slated for the end of this
year, and with the LCA Navy Mk.1 beginning its carrier compatbility
trials successfully, the two Mk.1 programmes are effectively making
progress in their final stages of development, clearing space now for
attention to the LCA Mk.2, the platform that both the IAF and Indian
Navy are looking forward to very keenly.

The proposed platform,
powered by the more powerful GE F414 turbofan (a deal that’s finalised
but yet to be signed), will be the true replacement of the MiG-21. It
will be a more capable aircraft in every way, as first revealed at Aero
India 2011. This year at the show in Bengaluru, there will be wide
interest in the proposed platform. The Indian Air Force, sources say,
has been putting custom pressure on the programme team to commit to
better capabilities and timelines, and will be looking to see certain
specifics announced or pledged at Aero India.

Defence Minister
Manohar Parrikar, who visited ADA earlier this month, is said to have
expressed the need for far greater indigenous content on the LCA,
maintaining that the current 60% level would be unacceptable on the LCA
Mk.2. He was assured that project management and development sub-systems
meant that the indigenous content percentage on the Mk.2 would be
significantly higher from the start.

January 29, 2015

The
Indian Air Force (IAF) is moving towards an indigenous missile era that
will allow India to order surgical strikes destroying targets about
300km away. In a new feat, HAL has completed integration of BrahMos
thermonuclear cruise missile with Sukhoi-30MKI after over two years of
work, modifying the Russian-made aircraft.

HAL director S
Subrahmanyan, who led the project, said the first test flight of the
modified Su-30MKI with the BrahMos missile will be conducted in March.
HAL chairman RK Tyagi confirmed crucial ground vibration test was
completed late 2014.

"The initial requirement is for two
Su-30MKIs with BrahMos. The first one will fly in March and we will take
up the second one in line," Subrahmanyan said.

A retired Air Marshal told TOI: "All our fighters have origins in other
countries (Mirage in France) and they come with certain configurations.
While minor modifications have been carried out in the past, to be able
to mount an indigenised cruise missile is an achievement."

He added that this will pave the way for the IAF to look at mini missiles and other crucial weapon systems being integrated.

While
the onus of integrating the missile with the aircraft was on BrahMos
Aerospace, HAL was asked to complete certain crucial modifications that
would allow the missile team to fulfill its responsibility. Asked for a
conservative deadline for the integration of second Su-30MKI, HAL
sources said it would take about 13 months.
In the last 6-7 months several key assessments/changes, including the
stress analysis, modifying load bearing members (components) of the
aircraft, dummy missile mounting etc. have been completed. Sources said
Russia provided the team with technical consultancy, adding the
modifications to the fuselage in order to accommodate the 9-metre-long
missile, were among the most challenging tasks.

The HAL team,
another director pointed out, experienced a lot of hiccups during the
upgradation of the MiG-21BIS which today boasts of four new missiles.
"We had to modify the engine to avoid problem of shut-off," he said,
adding the experience helped in the Su-30MKI project.

Russia, France, Germany and Spain, all better watch out. They may have
to contend with Japan in the race to supply submarines to India. In
keeping with their expanding strategic partnership, the Modi government
has asked the Shinzo Abe administration whether it would be interested
in the over Rs 50,000 crore project to build six stealth submarines in
India.

With Japan recently ending its decades old self-imposed
arms export embargo, New Delhi has forwarded "a proposal" to Tokyo to
"consider the possibility" of making its latest diesel-electric
Soryu-class submarines in India, say sources.

This "feeler"
dovetails into PM Narendra Modi's strategic outreach to Japan, as well
as Australia and the US, since he took over last year. The possible sale
of Japanese US-2i ShinMayva amphibious aircraft to the Indian Navy is
already being discussed. Australia, too, is considering the Soryu
submarines to replace its ageing Collins-class vessels.

The US, on its part, has been pushing for greater defence cooperation
among India, Japan and Australia to counter China's assertiveness in the
Asia-Pacific region. The recent Obama-Modi summit led to the "joint
strategic vision for Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region" with a direct
reference to South China Sea, where China is locked in territorial
disputes with its neighbours. Both Japan and Australia are also keen to
participate in the annual Indo-US Malabar naval exercise on a regular
basis, which has riled China in the past. But
the 4,200-tonne Soryu submarines, manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy
Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, may not meet Indian
requirements. Japan will also be just one of the contenders for the mega
programme, called Project-75-India, if it agrees to throw its hat into
the ring.

Countries like France (ship-builder DCNS), Germany
(HDW), Russia (Rosoboronexport) and Spain (Navantia) are already girding
up, with the first three having the experience of building submarines
for India.

The six new submarines, with both land-attack missile capabilities and
air-independent propulsion for greater underwater endurance, are to be
built at an Indian shipyard with foreign collaboration. "If Japan is
really interested, it will have to form a joint venture with an Indian
public/private shipyard," said the source.

The Modi government
wants to kick-start Project-75-I, which has not taken off due to
politico-bureaucratic apathy since being accorded "acceptance of
necessity" in November 2007, in the backdrop of India's rapidly
depleting conventional submarine fleet.

A high-level committee, led by Vice Admiral AV Subhedar, is slated to
submit a report to the defence ministry next month on the domestic
shipyards which are capable of submarine-manufacturing. "The tender or
RFP (request for proposal) to the shipyards should be issued this year,"
he said.

The Soryu submarines, incidentally, were inducted
into the Japanese maritime self-defence force from 2009 onwards. Already
equipped with AIP, Japan is now working to install lithium-ion battery
propulsion systems in its next-generation of the Soryu submarines. - timesofindia

January 28, 2015

Prime Minister Narendra Modi may inaugurate Aero India - 2015 in
Bengaluru next month.Scheduled to be held between February 18 and 22,
the biennial air show, organised by the Defence Ministry, is generally
inaugurated by the incumbent defence ministers. This time, however, it
would be different as Prime Minister Modi is expected to kickstart the
air show, sources said.

With more than 750 companies
participating, Modi is likely to make a strong pitch for his “Make in
India” campaign in Bengaluru to boost defence manufacturing. The Defence
Ministry is modifying the defence procurement procedure (PPP) to make
it more industry-friendly. Soon after coming to power, the NDA
government freed a large number of defence products from the need to
obtain an industrial licence.

Subsequently, the “make” option of
the DPP that seeks to promote research and development in the industry
with government support and the placement of orders (if R&D is
successful), is also being revised to make it more attractive for the
private sector.

While five aerobatic teams, including the Flying
Bulls Czech Republic, and IAF’s Sarang, will display their skills at
the show, Rafale fighter jets from France and indigenous LCA Tejas are
expected to set the Bangalore sky on fire.

January 27, 2015

China has purchased six battalions of Russian-built S-400
surface-to-air missile systems to enhance its air defense capability
against the United States and its allies in the Western Pacific, reports
the Washington-based Strategy Page.
Each battalion has eight launchers, a control center, a radar and 16
missiles available as reloads. A launcher can fire two missiles
simultaneously and all equipment is mobile. The cost of each battalion
is US$500 million. Originally known as the S-300PMU-3, SA-21 or Triumf,
the system was renamed the S-400 because the missile turned out to be
far more than just another upgrade of the S-300. Russia deployed its
first S-400 battalion in 2010.
The development of the S-400 was undertaken particularly with
electronic countermeasures in mind. Compared to its US counterpart, the
Patriot system, the S-400 is physically larger and has a longer range
but is very expensive, according to the report. With a range of 400
kilometers, the S-400 missile can hit targets at altitudes as high as
31,000 meters and its radar can acquire targets 700 kilometers away.
Two types of missiles are compatible with the S-400. The smaller
missile has a shorter range of 120 kilometers. Four of those missiles
can be deployed to a launcher, similar to the S-300 systems. The larger
missile has two versions as well. One is designed with a range of 250
kilometers while the more expensive one has a range of 400 kilometers.
however, without real combat experience the system's performance still remains unknown, said the report.

The United States is regularly updating India on Chinese submarine
deployments in the Indian Ocean. Last month, a US drone picked up a
Chinese nuclear-powered attack submarine on the surface off Yemen. The
information was relayed to the security establishment in New Delhi's
South Block. China's deployment of submarines-three in the past year-in
the Indian Ocean have worried Indian planners.
This intelligence
cooperation with the US assumes significance in the light of the
first-ever US-India joint strategic vision for the Asia-Pacific and
Indian Ocean region unveiled in New Delhi by President Barack Obama and
Prime Minister Modi, on January 25. China was not mentioned, but the
vision document alluded to it by affirming 'the importance of
safeguarding maritime security and ensuring freedom of navigation and
over flight throughout the region, especially in the South China Sea.'
Indian
intelligence officials say they are keen on intelligence relating to
terrorism emanating from Pakistan on its western borders and Chinese
military activities.
Defence officials in New Delhi said that the
Type 091 Han-class was 'running on the surface' accompanied by an escort
which appeared to be a replenishment ship. The elderly 1970s vintage
Han class attack submarine, is believed to be part of the 19th anti
piracy task force that has been in the Gulf of Aden since December 10.
This is the third such deployment of a submarine by the PLAN since 2013.
Earlier, the docking of a Song-class submarine in Colombo in September
and November last year created ripples in New Delhi. The PLAN terms
these submarine deployments as routine and part of its anti-piracy
patrols, an assertion that naval planners take with a pinch of salt.
Jayadeva
Ranade, former joint secretary R&AW expects intelligence on China,
particularly naval intelligence, as one area where both India and the US
could gainfully cooperate. "The information supplied regarding the
Chinese submarine in Colombo and later in the Indian Ocean are examples.
I'm sure there is more that has been shared by the US about the route
taken by the submarine, capabilities displayed, but I am not too sure
whether the exchange of intelligence regarding our land borders with
China has increased," he says.

The first fruit of Barack Obama’s trip to India is the
“understanding” which may finalize the civil nuclear cooperation
agreement of 2008, which was supposed to clear the way for the sale of
nuclear fuel and reactors to India.
The new understanding removes both the US demand for tracking its
nuclear supplies, and US suppliers’ liability in case of a
nuclear accident.
President Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi both hailed the
New Delhi negotiations as a breakthrough and a new step in
US-Indian relations.
The US and India have been in a deadlock for six years, with
Washington insisting on tracking any nuclear material it supplied
to India. The US president used his executive powers to waive
away the measure and agree that from now on, inspections of
India’s use of fissile materials by the IAEA will suffice.
“We are committed to moving towards full
implementation,” the US leader told journalists at a
conference in New Delhi, where the meeting was being held.
For his part, Modi said that “the civil nuclear deal was the
centerpiece of our relationship. We worked with a sense of
purpose for four months after I visited the US in September last
year to make sure the deal is taken forward.”
The US will agree to provide insurance coverage to those
companies that want to build nuclear power stations in India.
According to US Ambassador Richard Verma the liability issue is
to be resolved through a “memorandum of law within the Indian
system” that wouldn’t require change of the Indian law.
“Ultimately it’s up to the companies to go forward, but the
two governments came to an understanding,” Richard Verma
told the press.
The two countries had signed what became the basis of the current
agreement back in 2008. But an obstacle to trade relations was
always India’s unwillingness to shield US suppliers from
responsibility for accidents, which is part of India’s strict
liability law passed in 2010.
Currently, all nuclear power in India is controlled by the
state-owned Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd., meaning that
the operator itself would lose out in the event of an accident,
under the new conditions.
The two leaders admitted at the conference that their partnership
still required work and that, according to Modi, “we have to
convert a good start into lasting progress. This requires
translating vision into sustained action and concrete
achievements.”

Joint US-Indian drone production, closer defense ties mulled

Obama and Modi also discussed a 10-year outline for strengthening
defense ties between the two countries. Some of the new deals
included the joint production of drone aircraft and equipment for
Lockheed Martin Corp’s C-130 military transport plane.
On Monday, Obama is scheduled to attend India’s Republic Day
parade, which is an annual demonstration of military power. This
will mark the first time a US president has attended such an
event in India.
The two leaders have also agreed to establish an Obama-Modi
hotline, which would be India’s first at such a level. Other
deals included financing projects that would increase India’s use
of renewable energy to lower its carbon footprint in the world.

January 24, 2015

India and the US are set to announce joint manufacturing of the Raven
unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in Bengaluru from later this year, giving
New Delhi a slice of the $3 billion order book for the world’s most
advanced hand-launched drone.
Under the terms of the deal, to be unveiled during President Barack
Obama’s visit to Delhi starting Sunday, the Americans will end
production of the 10-km range UAV at a US site and move production to a
Bengaluru-based joint venture, which will become global supplier.
Seven countries have lined up to buy the UAV, currently built by US
firm AeroVironment, with pending orders totalling $3 billion, a senior
government official said. “Not only will the Indian company supply the
remaining orders but jointly develop a 18-km extended range UAV with
flying endurance increased from four to six hours,” he said.

The
all-weather, all-terrain, battery-operated UAV is used to make the
battlefield more “transparent” and to target enemy armoured columns and
personnel. The other technology cleared for transfer to India is the
“roll-on, roll-off” intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance module
for the Lockheed Martin-manufactured C-130 J transport aircraft to
India.
This module converts the transport aircraft into a sophisticated
long-range spy machine. The plane has the ability to land on unprepared
short air strips, including paddy fields and has proven its worth as an
air ambulance and in special forces operations. India has bought a
dozen C-130 J “Hercules” aircraft over the past six years. The transfer
of two technologies is expected to feature in the joint statement at the
end of Obama’s visit.
According to US diplomatic sources, visiting US under-secretary of
defence for acquisition, technology and logistics Frank Kendall reached
closure on the two deals during his talks with national security advisor
Ajit Doval, principal secretary Nripendra Misra and secretary (defence
production) Mohan Kumar. With President Obama and defence secretary
Ashton Carter directing Kendall that India was to be given
transformative defence technologies as it was a close strategic partner
and ally, the two sides have also identified other defence technologies
to be jointly developed and co-produced.
More technologies will be cleared during Kendall’s next visit to
India on February 23. That the Americans are keen to partner India is
evident from the fact that Kendall has set up a special group under
India desk head Duncan Lang to fast-track technology transfer and
licensing.

Keeping in tune with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in
India” camp­aign, US arms major BAE Systems has proposed to set up an
artillery gun manufacturing unit in India for supplying 145 M777 ultra
light weight howitzers to the Indian Army.Once Indian
demands are met, the same manufacturing and testing facility could be
used by the foreign firm to feed its existing global customers,
including the US, Canada and Australia, as well as prospective ones from
South American, Middle Eastern and European armed forces.

“We
have already signed a MoU with around 40 Indian companies after
assessing their capabilities to support our offset offer and perform
assembly, integration and test of the M777. Nearly half of these are
micro, small and medium enterprises,” John Kelly, vice-president,
business development and strategic planning, BAE Systems, told Deccan
Herald.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had earlier stated
that the central government would look at manufacturing proposals from
foreign vendors if the equipment makers involved a large number of
Indian small and medium-sized business units. The arms export norms are
also being revised.

The ultra light howitzer deal was under the
works for several years after successful trials of these guns in the
mountains. The Army was planning to utilise the M777 guns for
high-altitude warfare in the North-East as well as in Jammu and Kashmir.
Compared to the weight of other artillery guns, it is lighter.

Its
costing, however, was the bone of contention. In March, 2013, the US
government gave an offer and acceptance letter for the same deal at $694
million as the deal was to be done through the foreign military sales
route. There was also a proposal on 30 per cent offset for the deal. The
US firm, sources said, was now ready to offer the M777 guns at a price,
which is 6-8 per cent of the cost it quoted in 2013.

The 2013
proposal did not materialise because the deal expired for want of a
response from the Defence Ministry in time. It happened because the US
Congress approval had an expiry date. The US government had subsequently
taken an approval from the Congress to offer the M-777 deal to India at
a ceiling price of $885 million, an increase of 27 per cent.

“The
case for procurement of ULH guns through US government has not
progressed due to cost issues and because the vendor has not been able
to come up with a proposal fully compliant with the offset
requirements,” former defence minister Arun Jaitley informed the Lok
Sabha in July.

The Indian Army has initiated certain
“fast-track endeavours” to make up for the delays to fill critical gaps
in equipment within two to three years, its chief has said. Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhag
told the defence magazine India Strategic in an interview that it was
imperative to maintain the “highest standards of operational
preparedness to meet present and emerging challenges” and that “making
up for critical deficiency of weapons and equipment is on fast track”.

About the much-delayed acquisition of
modern artillery guns, Gen. Suhag said the army will have only 155 mm
medium-bore guns from now on as part of the artillery “mediumisation”
effort. Both “global and indigenous routes are being adopted to hasten
the process and ensure that self-sufficiency in gun manufacture is
achieved”.

The existing Bofors FH 77 guns, acquired
nearly three decades ago, are also being upgraded along with the
Soviet-origin M 46 130mm towed guns first inducted some four decades
ago.

“Improved firepower in terms of quality
and quantity is a pre-requisite for any success in any battle. To this
end, mediumisation of the artillery has been on since 2012, with major
projects of the 155mm towed gun, 155mm Dhanush (upgraded Bofors) and
155mm tracked (self-propelled) guns at the final stages of evaluation.
In addition, the existing 130mm guns are being upgraded indigenously.”

He said the government had already
cleared the procurement of 814 155mm mounted gun systems (MGS) through
the Buy and Make Indian route. This “mediumisation is likely to commence
by 2017-18″.

The army chief also stressed the
importance of jointmanship between the three services as also
development of capabilities and infrastructure, particularly in the
northeastern parts of the country, and enhancement of human resource
development.

“There are numerous initiatives at the
macro and micro levels to streamline capital procurement procedures to
ensure that the capability building of the army is progressed,” Gen.
Suhag told the magazine, adding that to keep up with modernisation and
indigenisation, there has been regular interaction with the public and
private sector industry.
“Interaction in the form of seminars and exhibitions is conducted
periodically” and “liaison with industry at all levels of hierarchy is
being encouraged to ensure seamless integration with the industry.”

About the much-needed new helicopters to
replace the legacy machines, Gen. Suhag observed that “armed
helicopters (AH) provide the requisite punch in a short and intense
battle with enhanced ability to the commander to look, move and strike
deep”.

The defence ministry has “vested their responsibility with the army” and their induction will be carried out in due course.

Significantly, said the army chief,
“plans to cater for training support and infrastructure for operational
and maintenance requirements are already under way.”

It may be noted that the army has
projected a requirement of 39 Boeing Apache AH64E helicopters, 13 each
for its three strike corps. The Army Aviation Corps is working out the
detailed proposal and once approved by the defence ministry, the formal
process for their acquisition will start.

Incidentally, the first lot of 22
Apaches are being acquired by the Indian Air Force (IAF), and their
order is likely to be placed around mid-2015. According to sources, the
army will follow the IAF parameters, or Staff Qualitative Requirements
(SQRs), and place a follow-on order to cut short the acquisition time.

Gen. Suhag disclosed that the
replacement process for the vintage HAL-made Chetak and Cheetah
helicopters is already on and a Request for Information (RFI) was
recently floated to identify probable Indian companies for their
licensed production or indigenous manufacture.

The Army is also looking for newer
unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for intelligence and surveillance role
and proposals are under consideration “to enhance the Indian Army
holdings”.

The chief pointed out that modernisation
of the Infantry Soldier is being accorded top priority to increase
weapon lethality, night vision capability, survivability and battlefield
mobility in a network centric environment. Critical voids are being
filled and procurement of close quarter battle carbines, assault rifles
and light machine guns is in an advanced stage. Image intensifiers for
night fighting and situational awareness are being acquired and a
Request for Proposals (RfP) – or tender – for image intensifier sights
for carbines was issued on November 7.

Procurement of body armour items like ballistic helmets and bulletproof jackets is also at an advanced stage.

About air defence, which has a heavy
obsolescence, Gen. Suhag said that action is on to upgrade its guns,
missiles and radar systems.Efforts were also on to upgrade the in-service equipment of the
mechanised forces for night fighting and have better power packs. A key
development under way is for induction of future combat vehicle
platforms, Gen. Suhag said.

January 23, 2015

Anaerobic or air-independent submarines,
which usually use hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells, are quieter than
conventional diesel-electric boats and do not have to surface or use
snorkel tubes to breathe air, thereby exposing themselves to detection
by radar and other sensors.
Russia could supply the Indian
Navy with "stealthy" submarines, equipped with air-independent
propulsion (AIP) systems if India opens a tender for them, a senior
official at Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation
told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.
"The Russian side is ready to supply a foreign client with a
submarine refitted to meet any requests for a different exterior and
equipment as formulated by the client," the source told RIA Novosti.
In 2007, New Delhi said it was considering expanding its fleet
of submarines with diesel-electric subs. One of the key requirements was
for the boats to have so-called anaerobic engines.
Air-independent (closed cycle) submarines, which usually use
hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells, are quieter than conventional
diesel-electric boats and do not have to surface or use snorkel tubes
to breathe air, thereby exposing themselves to detection by radar and
other sensors.
A
Russian design bureau, Rubin, is currently running tests on AIP systems
to be installed on the Russian Navy's Lada-class diesel-electric
submarines (Project 677) in 2015, with a new class of non-nuclear
submarines with AIP engines to enter the construction phase in two
years.
This comes as Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu arrived in New
Delhi earlier in the day to talk over the countries' joint
military-technical ventures with his counterpart, Manohar Parrikar. The
ministers have agreed to "fast-track" a host of joint projects,
including work on a fifth-generation fighter jet they are building
together.
India is Russia's largest military-technical cooperation partner.
According to estimates by Russia's Federal Service
for Military-Technical Cooperation, the country supplied India with
$4.78 billion worth of weapons and military equipment in 2013. India
also leases Russian hardware, such as the nuclear-powered Akula-class
Chakra submarine.

Russia and India are
negotiating construction of three additional frigates for the Indian Navy and
the lease of a second nuclear submarine, RIA Novosti learned from a
spokesperson of the Center for Analysis of World Arms Trade (CAWAT).
“Negotiations are
under way on the construction of three frigates of the Project 11356 Admiral
Grigorovich Class for the Indian Navy at the Yantar Baltic Shipbuilding Plant.
The Government of India is also considering leasing a second Russian nuclear
submarine, after the first nuclear submarine of the Project 971 Akula Class
(formerly Nerpa, Chakra) enters service with the Indian Navy,” said the
representative of CAWAT.
He recalled that the
first three frigates of the Project 11356 Akula Class were built at the Baltic
shipyards in 1999-2004. The second set of three frigates was supplied with
advanced weaponry and improved operation performance characteristics. Unlike
the first set of three ships, which was equipped with the Club-N Missile
Complex, this set of ships was supplied with Russian-Indian supersonic cruise
missile systems – using the PJ-10 BrahMos.rianovosti/rbth

India clearly not satisfied with the US allowing
just two military-use items under the much-touted Defence Trade and
Technology Initiative (DTTI) is pushing for more as last-minute
negotiations are on ahead of US President Barack Obama’s three-day (from
January 25 to 27) visit to India.
The points-person of both sides, G Mohan Kumar, Secretary
Department of Defence Production, and US nominee Frank Kendall,
Under-secretary (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics) of Defence
Department, met in New Delhi today.
“A few issues have been discussed and negotiations are on for
collaboration and co-development of military equipment is being
discussed,” said a source while adding that in international diplomacy
it’s a two-way street. The US is looking for a graduated baby-step approach to commence
the DTTI while India is looking at a licenced-production-style of
approach like it does with Russia, its Cold war (1945-1991) military
ally. Tanks such as the T-90 and the Sukhoi-30-MKI — both Russian
products — are produced in India while a nuclear powered submarine has
been leased for ten years to India, to name a few.
The Pentagon (Ministry of Defence) has selected just two pieces
of equipment out of the original list of 17 that can be made with India.
It’s for joint production of hand-held Unmanned Ariel Vehicles
(UAVs) as well as specialised surveillance and intelligence gathering
equipment for the C-130-J transport planes. The Indian Air Force has
five of these planes in its fleet.
The UAV project is said to be the RQ-11 “Raven”, world’s most
widely used UAV for tactical surveillance. The US government has rigid
controls for larger UAVs to other countries, but for the ‘Raven’ the
controls are not that strict.
The intelligence gathering equipment includes modules that allow
C-130s to be quickly refitted for surveillance and as VIP transporters
or hospitals.
Since the DTTI was launched in 2012, the US proposed 17 projects
for collaboration. India has had reservations as the projects did not
have scope for transfer of technology, like it enjoys with the Russians.

January 22, 2015

India and Russia on Wednesday agreed to speed up work and iron out
hurdles that are holding up the co-production and co-designing of a 5th
Generation Fighter Aircraft.

The two nations had in 2012 agreed
to jointly design and produce the next generation fighters. Both
countries are scheduled to spend US $5.5 billion each towards the cost
of designing, infrastructure build-up, prototype development and flight
testing. But the UPA Government had failed to operationalise the
project.
The
decision to fast-track the programme was done in a bilateral meeting
between Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his Russian counterpart,
Sergei Shoigu, at the 14th Meeting of the Indian-Russian
Inter-Governmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation, which
took place in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters after
the meeting in New Delhi, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said, "We
have decided to fast-track many of the issues."

However, the 5th
generation fighter being built for the Russian Air Force is already
being flight tested in Russia and India has suggested that a fresh
Research and Development (R&D) contract would be a waste of time and
resources.

Russia has already built five-prototypes in single
pilot version. The Indian version is a two-seater, which will acomodate
one pilot and a co-pilot who will function as a Weapon Systems Operator
(WSO).

Mr Parrikar has also told Russia that India wants the
stealth fighter jet to be inducted into the Indian Air Force much before
2024-25 - the date that was fixed for delivery. India plans to build as
many as 127 fighters at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited facility in
Nashik. The Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) project is
estimated to cost $25 billion.

Besides, the two sides have
agreed that India will now exchange all information about flight safety
protocols being followed on Russian platforms - fighter jets,
helicopters and the transport planes - flown by the Indian Air Force.

This
information exchange is crucial given the series of accidents in the
Indian Air Force, including engine problems in India's mainstay fighter,
the Sukhoi Su-30 MKI. Russia had also earlier contested India's claim
that the pilot seats of the Su-30 ejected automatically during the last
crash in October last year.

The much-awaited test of the air version of supersonic cruise missile
BrahMos will be conducted in March. Earlier planned in December, this
nuclear capable world class weapon system is now ready to surprise
enemies.The launch has been planned on the sidelines of the visit of Russian
Defence Minister General Sergei Shoigu to the BrahMos Aerospace
Headquarters, said Sudhir Mishra, CEO and Managing Director of BrahMos
Aerospace Private Limited (BAPL), on Wednesday.
Informing this
over phone from Delhi, Mishra said, “If everything goes according to the
programme, the live test flight of the missile will be carried out from
Su-30MKI fighter aircraft in March. Both the launcher and missile are
ready. Now, interface of the missile with the aircraft is on. There will
be a dummy test before the actual drop test,” he said.
Sources said the drop test is likely to be conducted off the Odisha coast while the dummy test will take place in Pokharan.
Jointly
developed by India and Russia, the 8.4 metre BrahMos missile, the
fastest in the world, has a flight range of 290 km and carries a
conventional warhead up to 300 kg, thus delivering with high-precision,
devastating power at supersonic speed of Mach-2.8.
Defence
scientists are leaving no stone unturned for a copybook launch. If
test-fired successfully, BrahMos will be the first weapon system in the
world to have such capability. As of now, there is no such weapon
available in the world.
Defence sources said the BrahMos Aerospace
had to reduce the weight of the air version of the missile as it will
be launched from a moving platform. Some modifications were also made in
its design to easily integrate it in Sukhoi aircraft.
“Some
structural changes were also made to the Sukhoi by Hindustan Aeronautics
Ltd (HAL) to ensure finest integration. The design changes have been
validated through various tests, including the critical ground vibration
test,” sources added.

With the third and the last round of talks between officials of India
and US on civil nuclear issues underway on Wednesday, high level sources
indicated that there has been acceptance of India’s legal position on
the liability issue on the ground that a facilitating mechanism in the
form of insurance consortium would be put in place at the earliest.
According to sources in the know, an understanding has been reached and
the US side has climbed down from its earlier stand on contentious
clauses in the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010
Ahead of US President Barack Obama’s three-day visit to New Delhi,
primarily as chief guest for the Republic Day parade, the Indo-US
nuclear contact group’s meeting is underway in London. This is the third
round.
US firm Westinghouse Electrical Co., which has an
agreement to supply reactors to a proposed plant in Gujarat, has been
keenly awaiting a resolution of the pending issue. And, sources here
indicated that the US officials have come around to accept that the
legal framework — which has the Indian Parliament’s stamp — cannot be
changed; and details of the insurance pool contributions are being
worked out.
It has been conveyed that “it is the maximum that the
government is willing to go” to facilitate the civil nuclear power
projects to take off with the creation of a $250 million insurance pool.
It would mainly be Indian insurers forming a consortium.
The
nuclear contact group was set up in 2014 after PM Narendra Modi’s US
visit to precisely thrash out differences over clauses in the Civil
Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, seen to be prohibitive by the US and
France and even Russia. The suppliers have been particularly wary of the
clause that makes them directly liable in case of a nuclear mishap
while internationally, it has been cited, it rests not on the supplier
but the operator.
In India’s case, it is the government-owned
enterprise, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India. The other
contentious Clause 46, pertains to open-ended liability, in other words
it is unlimited liability that the supplier would have to face in the
event of a mishap or glitch/fault in equipment. The liability is to be
determined on the extent of the damage caused. Since the 2008, 123
Agreement, Indo-US civil nuclear agreement has virtually been in
defreeze and according to the government a breakthrough therefore would
be a major achievement.
“It is no mean feat
that we have managed to impress’’ upon the US side that the liability
law cannot be revisited and the insurance consortium proposal as a
workable option “is being accepted”.
It was also clarified that
for insurance pool will be created with contributions from all
stakeholders, not the supplier alone, which in a way would mean that the
unlimited liability to be borne by all concerned.
The nuclear
contact group comprising of diplomats, officials, as well as trade
representatives of NPCIL, Westinghouse and GE, however, discussed a
range of issues pertaining to licensing, administration as also the
technical aspects.This is apart from the liability clauses.

For the first time, Airborne Warning and Control System
(AWACS) are likely to be deployed here on the Republic Day for vigil
from the skies during the parade where US President Barack Obama will be
the Chief Guest.

The AWACS will monitor air space on
and around Rajpath where the parade will be witnessed by Obama along
with President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a host
of other dignitaries.

Noting that it will be for the time that
AWACS would be deployed for the Republic Day, official sources said the
step is being taken in view of the heightened threat perception and
apprehensions of aerial attack by terrorists.

The sources said
the decision to deploy AWACS was taken at the request of the Americans
who wanted India to tighten air space in Delhi when Obama is exposed
during the Republic Day celebrations.

The AWAC detects incoming
cruise missiles and aircraft from over 400-km away in all-weather
conditions, and direction of air defence fighters besides picking up any
low flying object which go undetected by normal radars.

AWACS,
which has been integrated with Israeli technology on IL-76, will take
off one hour before the function and keep circling around the national
capital until the US President is out at the venue.

Changes are
also being made in the flight path of civilian aircraft on that day in
Delhi, with the minimum altitude being raised from 32,000 feet to 35,000
feet.

The Director General of Civil Aviation may issue a 'NOTAM'
(Notice to Air Men) for diverting all flights overflying Delhi at the
time of the parade.

Earlier, overflying plane above 32,000 feet
did not fall in the category of no fly zone but now the height has been
raised to 35,000 feet, the sources said.

However, no plane
will be flying in the radius of 400 kms of the venue of Rajpath as
against 300 kms on earlier occasions, they said.
This means
airports adjoining Delhi like Jaipur, Agra and as far as Lucknow or
Amritsar may not operate flights when the function will be on in the
national capital.

Sticking to the past practice, no plane will
land or take off at the Indira Gandhi International Airport during the
time when Republic Day will be on at Rajpath.
American officials
may also part of all radar stations and control rooms that have been set
up for the visit of the US President.

Union Home Minister
Rajnath Singh said earlier in the day that "all security arrangements
are in place. There will be no problem anywhere."

January 21, 2015

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has agreed to the US demand of
accommodating their security officials to man air defence instruments
for securing the national capital's airspace during US President Barack
Obama's three-day visit later this week.

“The air
defence sensors will be manned jointly for these three days, on the
ground as well as in the sky,” sources told Deccan Herald.

The demand from Washington came through the official channel. After consultation between the two sides, the IAF acceded to it.

Obama
is expected to arrive in New Delhi in the early hours of Sunday for his
second India visit. He will attend bilateral meetings with Prime
Minister Narendra Modi the same day, and sit in a bulletproof enclosure
on Rajpath on January 26 as Republic Day chief guest.

While the
US President and First Lady may travel to Agra on the last day of their
visit, Obama is also slated to deliver a public lecture at Siri Fort
auditorium in the capital the same day.

The Republic Day parade, however, will be the longest duration for which Obama will be present outside at a public function.

US security officials had first proposed to bring their own air defence equipment. But
after consultation with the IAF top brass, they agreed to rely on the
latter's sensors, on the condition that they would be monitored by
personnel from both sides.

“Several years of exercising together
has given them confidence in the IAF air defence systems and the way the
IAF operates. The joint operation will continue till Obama leaves,”
said a source. The two main components of the air defence operation
involves scanning the sky from the ground to look for any sign of enemy
aircraft or missile, and carrying out the same task from a flying
aircraft.

As part of Obama's security ring, several US warships
are likely to stay put in India's vicinity. “The US frigates are already
in the Western Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf,” said an official.

Obama,
the first US President to be chief guest on Republic Day, will witness
the parade that highlights India's military prowess and cultural
diversity for close to two hours.

Men from 61 Cavalry riding
their horses will mark the beginning of the parade, and it will end with
a flypast by fighter aircraft from the IAF and the Navy.

While
women contingents from all three services will march at the ceremony,
there will be a special contingent of seven women officers from the Army
and three from the IAF who have scaled Mount Everest.

Sixteen
Indian states, including four Congress-ruled states and Uttar Pradesh,
will showcase their cultural diversity to the visiting dignitary.

Theevidence of failures in our Defence R&D and manufacturing eco system are myriad.

A
country that has a proud aviation heritage spanning several decades is
forced to buy trainer aircraft from Switzerland, a country otherwise
known for chocolates and watches!

Challenges

The Navy is given an aircraft carrier – almost a decade behind schedule and billions of dollars over-budget.

When delivered it also lacked any air defence systems, as the PM reportedly found out when he first visited it!

The Tejas fighter aircraft takes 30 years and we are still counting as it is still being putting through its paces by HAL.

We have still to have successfully design an Indian jet engine to power our fighters!

On
the other end of the spectrum, soldiers have to sometimes buy their own
shoes and uniforms because what’s produced by the Government Ordinance
boards are substandard.

I can go on and on!

India faces some of the biggest challenges that any nation faces in terms of its security.

We
have a porous coastline and borders along with the embrace of several
neighbours that are determined to cook up a constant stew of terrorism
and keep the country on the boil!

Keeping our country secure is critical for our economic development and growth.

But
to do so in the current inefficient way of the Ministry of Defence
(MoD) product development and acquisition is unsustainable and
unaffordable!

Finally,
questions are being asked and solutions being sought to breathtaking
amounts of money being spent on imports over the last several decades,
that still leave our forces under equipped and under-prepared.

That the MoD needs a real shake up is stating the obvious.

Fundamental changes are required in planning, procurement and contracting.

Most
importantly it is the R&D and manufacturing segments that need real
restructuring – especially given the Government’s ‘Make in India’
focus.

The MoD’s Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and its doctrine of research need a rethink.

The MoD’s manufacturing and domestic capability also need a rethink and re-architecting.

It
is obvious there’s something really wrong if a country that could
design jet fighters way back in the ‘60s isn’t able after 30 years, to
get the Tejas fighter jet deployed.

In fact, we are now having to negotiate a $25 billion dollar deal with France.

The
concept of centralised labs like DRDO that are distant from commercial
manufacturing and product companies are a relic of the past.

There
is no modern technology eco-system where product development is
separate from the manufacturing units, as an ivory tower with little or
no accountability!

Development

Technology
development and product development in today’s age need to be
integrated – both from a point of view of product and solution
development, as also from a commercial cost standpoint.

That
the DRDO head must be also the Defence Minister’s scientific advisor,
creates a holy cow around the DRDO and perpetuates an inefficient
monopoly, in innovation and design.

That
a deep restructuring of the DRDO is required is obvious to many,
including those in the DRDO who are impatient with the culture of
‘Government R&D’.

Technology and development need cultures of risk taking, exploration and innovation!

The current DRDO is a far cry from that as can be seen by long delays and cost overruns in projects!

For
those who argue that R&D and design don’t belong in the government
sector, I present to them ISRO’s world class accomplishments.

Imagine
if DRDO was in charge of R&D for ISRO and ISRO was simply the
launching entity. We would still be worrying about launching our first
satellite!

The
DRDO structure harks back to the days when there were technology
embargos against India and DRDO was the way to channel technologies from
friendly governments.

The
restructuring and the new DRDO must start with a separation of the DRDO
head from the scientific advisor to the Defence Minister’s role.

DRDO
itself must be made into different labs – that specialise in specific
critical futuristic technologies. DRDO needs to be right-sized and focus
only on technologies.

Conventional product technologies should be moved into DPSUs as their R&D wings like BEL, BDL, HAL etc.

DRDO must also seed and encourage private R&D labs for joint ownership of Intellectual Properties (IP).

The DRDO finally must be driven by commercial considerations.

Like
most design labs, their measure of achievements should be the number of
Intellectual Properties they can create and sell to various companies
DPSUs and private companies – Indian and foreign.

Because the test of a technology development is how it is adopted by commercial product/ platform companies.

Simultaneously, the network of Defence PSUs must be restructured and overhauled.

Their status of Navratnas notwithstanding, they have to be transformed into modern, cutting edge technology companies.

Their
government linkages should give them advantages vis-a-vis access to
capital but everything else should be as is for other capability driven
companies in the country.

This restructuring of DPSUs is critical to creating a starting point for the ‘Make in India’ strategy.

Restructuring

From
this form of restructuring and leadership can emerge a new energised
DRDO – a new entity called DRDO labs perhaps – at the centre of an
energetic ecosystem of innovation and creativity in the security space
in our country.

This is vital for all young engineers and scientists, looking to build careers in science and technology.

This
changed DRDO, along with revitalised and reorganised DPSUs, and the
energies of the private companies (domestic and foreign) are the three
building blocks to Make in India successful for the defence and security
sector!

Changing
the DRDO head should be the beginning of a process of restructuring and
reform if the Narendra Modi Government and, especially Defence Minister
Manohar Parrikar, want to shake up the defence and security sectors as
part of transforming India for its future.

India is on course to acquire a second nuclear-powered submarine on
lease from Russia to bolster its depleted underwater combat arm as well
as train its sailors in the complex art of operating such vessels.

Defence minister Manohar Parrikar indicated this possibility on Tuesday
on being asked whether India was planning to acquire another Akula-II
class nuclear submarine from Russia after President Vladimir Putin's
visit here last week.

India had inducted the first Akula-II
submarine, christened INS Chakra, on a 10-year lease from Russia in
April 2012, under a secret around $1 billion deal inked way back in
January 2004.
India and Russia have been holding talks on leasing another mothballed
Akula-II submarine named "Irbis'', the full construction of which also
could not be completed due to financial problems after the USSR broke up
in the early-1990s, as earlier reported by TOI.

"It's an open
secret. We are discussing the possibility of extending the current lease
or of taking another submarine on lease. This will help us in
training," said Parrikar, after paying homage at Amar Jawan Jyoti on
Vijay Diwas.

This comes a day after India's first indigenous
nuclear submarine INS Arihant began its sea-trials off Visakhapatnam. It
will take "10-12 months" for the 6,000-tonne INS Arihant to be ready
for induction, said Parrikar.

The difference between INS
Arihant and these 8,000-tonne Akula submarines is that the latter are
not armed with nuclear-tipped or long-range missiles due to
international treaties. INS Arihant, during its long-drawn sea trials,
will also have to test-fire its nuclear-tipped K-15 ballistic missiles
before it can become fully-operational.

While not meant for
"nuclear deterrent patrols", INS Chakra can be "a potent
hunter-killer'' of enemy submarines and warships as well as undertake
swift intelligence-gathering operations, apart from being equipped with
land-attack conventional cruise missiles. In this, the leased submarine
has added some much-needed muscle to India's depleting fleet of 13
ageing diesel-electric submarines, only half of them which are currently
operational.

INS Chakra also serves as a training platform for
INS Arihant and its two follow-on sister SSBNs (nuclear-powered
submarines armed with ballistic missiles) being built at the
shipbuilding centre at Vizag.

The next SSBN, INS Aridhaman, is
also now ready for "launch" into water, while the third called S-4 is at
an advanced fabrication stage in the building blocks. The Navy is also
pursuing the proposed project to build six SSNs (nuclear-powered attack
submarines without ballistic missiles) at Vizag, as earlier reported by
TOI.

Nuclear submarines can operate at high speeds for long
distances, and do not have to surface or "snorkel" every few days to get
oxygen to recharge their batteries like diesel-electric submarines.

Even as India is to discuss again France the $22 billion deal to supply
126 Dassault Rafale fighter jets to the Indian Air Force, a big team
from Airbus is set to land in India on January 21, ahead of US President
Barack Obama’s visit. The timing of the visit is significant, say
informed sources.

Airbus which had held 46.32 per cent of Dassault Aviation, had sold 8
per cent of the company back to Dassault for $979 million late last
year, said sources, adding that most of the parts of the Rafale fighter
jets would come from Airbus. Top officials visiting India at this time
is aimed at ensuring France’s credibility as a reliable supplier of
weapons, according to sources.

Costly delay

The Rafales deal has been hanging fire ever since Dassault Aviation won
the contract in 2007. The original conditions had implied production of
the initial 18 aircraft in France, with the remaining 108 to be
manufactured at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) facility, under a
technology transfer agreement.

“The $22 billion order is not the problem. The work share pattern of the
108 aircraft to be made in India is the bone of contention,” said an
official in the know, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “Of the
108 aircraft, will HAL manufacture 100 per cent, or 60 per cent, or 30
per cent of each jet, it is being worked out. Since there are several
other Indian manufacturers who would supply and manufacture the rest of
the parts, their names and work shares are all being sorted out,” said
the official.

Sources said that both sides have been haggling over clauses in the
proposed contract. While Dassault has offered the latest version of the
Rafale, fighter, the F3R for nearly double the price of the F3 version
it had originally bid for in the Indian fighter aircraft competition,
India has also been insisting on over licensed production, and that the
aircraft should be assembled in India.

Another official insisted that the Rafale deal was nearing a solution
since, “out of the four major contracts, three are signed and in the
dock. One contract is in the last stages.” The official added that the
spate of visits to India by the French authorities recently also pointed
to a deal closure, “since several Indian sub contractors have already
been identified by the French authorities during their visit to India in
February and March last year.”

High tech platform

Rafale has been termed the most advanced combat aircraft of its
generation, and draws on sophisticated onboard electronic systems to
carry out a wide range of missions. Thales provides equipment and
systems, including avionics, that together account for approximately one
third of the total value of each Rafale.

Thales is a global player in electronics and systems serving the defence
and aerospace sector. “The new generation Thales AFSA RBE2 radar is the
largest sensor on board the Rafale. The RBE2, Europe’s first Active
Electronically Scanned Array radar, takes combat system performance to a
new level,” said Antoine Caput, Vice President and Country Director,
Thales in India, speaking about the capabilities of the RBE2, a
multirole radar developed for the Rafale combat aircraft.

Sources have indicated that the Rafale deal could be sealed by March 31. The Thales India Country Director refused comment.

Ahead of US President Barack Obama’s visit to India, the US arm
of the London-headquartered BAE Systems has offered to transfer its
entire M777 155mm/39-calibre ultra lightweight Howitzer (ULH) assembly
line from the US to India to revive the stalled sale of 145 guns to the
Indian Army.
The proposal had hit an impasse last year over offsets and price
issues as it also involved direct import of the Howitzers from the US in
a foreign military sales route (FMS) under the buy (global) category of
the Indian Defense Procurement Procedure (DPP).
The new offer is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in
India’ initiative and will be on the agenda of delegation-level talks
between the two sides. The gun has been extensively tested and evaluated
in India previously. The proposal has been scrutinised in nine meetings
of the Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) and eight versions of the
offset proposals have been submitted to the Indian government for
approval till October 2013.
.

The
US leader, during his meeting with Modi, is expected to pitch for
scaling up India-US defense trade and push for Defense Trade and
Technology Initiative (DTTI), which was launched in 2012 and 2013 by his
new defense secretary-nominee Ashton B Carter.

John Kelly, BAE System’s vice-president for business development and
strategic planning platforms and services land systems and armament, who
is spearheading the renewed campaign for sale of the M777 guns to
India, confirmed: “We have offered to bring the gun’s assembly,
integration and testing to India.”
The proposal also involves increasing the indigenous component of the
gun. But the quantity that India orders should be significantly larger
for this offer to be more attractive. “If the quantity is higher, then
we have more opportunity for indigenisation and that’s what we are
working through at the moment,” he said. Last year in July, the then
defence minister Arun Jaitley had told the Parliament, “The case for
procurement of ultra-light howitzer guns through the US government has
not progressed due to cost issues and because the vendor has not been
able to come up with a proposal fully compliant to the offset
requirements.”
The ministry of defence (MoD) declared that the earlier offsets
proposal from BAE Systems was non-compliant because the BAE
Systems-owned US subsidiary, which manufactures the gun at Watervliet,
New York, was not taking responsibility for the mandated 30 % offsets.
The stalled proposal involved sister companies under the BAE Systems’
group umbrella for fulfilling the then $209 million offsets on behalf
of BAE Systems, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. But the MoD insisted on
offsets being implemented by the prime for the contract.
The problem now seems to be resolved. “With regards to the possible
Foreign Military Sale of the M777 Ultra-Lightweight Howitzers between
the the two countries, the US government will contract with BAE Systems
Global Combat Systems Limited and with other wholly owned subsidiaries
of BAE Systems for the purposes of supporting our offset obligations,” a
BAE Systems official later clarified.
This suggests that under the fresh bid, BAE Systems Global Combat
Systems will be the prime for the contract, which will actually be
signed by the US Department of Defense (DoD). The US Department of
Defence (DoD) which underwrites the deal with India, has also accepted
the “clarifications” and BAE Systems has identified 40 Indian Offsets
Partners with a wide geographical spread to execute the offsets
obligations..
The other problem over “cost issues” appears exaggerated due to a
misunderstanding. The first offer, which stated a $697-million price,
expired in October 2013. This necessitated the matter being referred to
the US Congress for the second time for approval, which was done in
August 2013. This Congressional notification provides a five-year
validity to the offer, a BAE Systems official said.
“The Congressional approval left a generous headroom by stipulating a
price ceiling of $885 million. This was wrongly seen as the new price,
which is unlikely to hit that ceiling. We’ll keep the price within the
6-8 % boundary,” said Kelly, suggesting a new price to be close to $750
million.
The renewed offer to shift the assembly line to India involves
Transfer of Technology to a chosen local partner, Kelly said. All local
players, including the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), could be
considered. The technological challenge involves the use of Titanium.
The FMS proposal does not envisage a joint venture, he said.
Significantly, the gun barrel of the American gun cannot be made in
India. This is barred by the Berry Amendment, a Congressional Act in the
US.

January 20, 2015

United States President Barack Obama will visit India to attend the
Republic Day parade as the chief guest on January 26. The special
aircraft, Air Force One of the 'The Flying White House' that carries the
President the United States is a customized Boeing 747-200B Jumbo and
has a bomb proof windshield. US military has two such aircrafts which
cost $250 million each.
Flying at the highest speed of 630 kms per hour the airplane can
fly for a range of 12550 kms and has a sitting capacity of 102. The
estimated amount spent every hour to maintain and fly this aircraft is
$100,000.
Protected from even electromagnetic interference caused by a
nuclear blast, the aircraft is equipped with advanced and secure
communications equipment, and also houses electronics to ensure failsafe
functioning.
The aircraft has President's 'Flying Oval Office' that enables the US
President to launch a nuclear attack in case of emergency. The
satellite communication enables the President to connect with any world
leader.
The aircraft's presidential suite houses a bedroom, dressing
room, shower and is fitted with a personal gym. Separate suites house
staff, secret service agents and advisers. The aircraft has 85
telephones, 19 LCD screens and hi-tech communication systems.
The hi-tech defence systems includes Electric Defence System to
jam enemy radar and deflect enemy missiles, mirror ball defence to
dazzle infra-red missile guidance systems and chaff and flares pod used
to confuse heat seaking missiles.
Adding to the technical specification of the Air Force One, the
aircraft also has armour plating to withstand nuclear blast, armoured
glass on all windows to withstand bullets and rockets. The whole
aircraft is designed to withstand air and ground attack.
The dining room with kitchen has two food preparation galleys and the kitchen staff can feed 100 people with 2000 meals.
The aircraft also has a senior staff meeting room along with other offices and press quarters.

India is all set to carry out the first canister-based trial of the
5,000 km-plus nuclear weapons capable Agni-V Intercontinental Ballistic
Missile from the Wheeler Island, off the Odisha coast on January 31.

Pre-mission activities were in full swing at Wheeler Island for the
crucial test when the missile would be fired in the “final induction
configuration”, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
sources told The Hindu on Monday.

In view of the long range of the missile, the radars, telemetry and
electro-optical tracking systems would be spread out and deployed in a
way that there would be “repeatability” of data, the sources added.

High-end telemetry system

A sophisticated high-end telemetry system would be exercised for its full capacity to capture data.

After the successful trial of Agni-V for the second time in September,
2013, DRDO Director General and Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister
Avinash Chander had then announced that the next launch would be
canister-based.

First stage

As a prelude to the actual launch, DRDO missile technologists had in the
past conducted ‘Missile Ejection Test’ from a canister in simulated
conditions on two occasions when various parameters that would have to
be met during the actual trial were validated.

The first stage of the three-stage solid fuelled Agni-V would be ignited
at a height of 25-30 metres during the actual launch after a gas
generator at the bottom of the canister provides force equivalent to
300-370 tonnes to push the missile to that height.

DRDO sources said the major advantage of canister was that it would
provide operational flexibility to the user to launch the missile from
anywhere as also easy and safer transportation.

The missile would be inducted after one or two more trials to test the robustness of the system.

A few tests would be enough for a large system, the sources added.

India joined an elite club of nations which possess ICBMs after the
maiden launch of Agni-V ended in a roaring success on April 19, 2012.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoygu will arrive here tomorrow on a
three-day visit to hold talks with his Indian counterpart Manohar
Parrikar and review the ongoing cooperation and future prospects in the
crucial sector.

During the talks, the Russian side is expected
to raise the issue of the much-delayed joint production of a Fifth-
Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) and BrahMos mini-missile.

It
is also expected to discuss Russian President Vladimir Putin's offer
last month to produce the 'Kamov' military helicopters in India, among
other things.

The question of a possible lease of a second
nuclear submarine from Russia could also come up in the meeting that is
being held just days ahead of US President Barack Obama's visit to the
country.

Currently, India operates an 8,140-tonne Akula Class
submarine -- renamed the INS Chakra -- which was leased in 2011 from
Russia for a period of 10 years.

The issues would feature as
part of discussions as the two counterparts chair the 13th meeting of
the Russian-Indian Inter-Governmental Commission on Military-Technical
Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC).

"The two ministers will review the progress made so far and the future scope," defence sources said.

One
of the most important deals in the works between India and Russia at
present is the FGFA. A Russian team was in the national capital last
month to discuss the deal and iron out any differences.

India
has said that the basic prototype of the plane is already flying and the
Indian version had just a few variations, hence a full-fledged R&D
contract would be a waste of time and resources, official sources said.

The
preliminary design agreement on the FGFA had been signed in 2010
between HAL and the Russian Sukhoi Design Bureau to build the jet for
use by both countries.

But the final R&D contract, which was
to be signed by 2012, is still to be finalised. The contract would pave
the way for prototype development and flight testing.

Russia is
also expected to push for a key deal for the joint development of a
BrahMos 'mini missile'. However, sources said that a tripartite
agreement in this regard is unlikely to be signed between DRDO, NPOM lab
of Russia and BrahMos Aerospace.

The Russian Minister will also be visiting the BrahMos aerospace centre in the national capital.

The
mini missile will have a speed of Mach 3.5 and can carry a payload of
300-kg up to a range of 290-km. In terms of size, it will be about half
that of the present missile, which is around 10-metres long.

BrahMos
Aerospace, an Indo-Russian joint venture firm set up in 1998, feels
that the new missile could be inducted into service by 2017 and there
would be a huge market for it in India and Russia and among friendly
foreign countries.

The BrahMos missile can be launched from land, air and marine-based platforms.

While
the army and navy have already started inducting land and sea-based
Brahmos missile systems, the air launch variant is set for trials soon.

Meanwhile, the Russian Defence Minister will also be visiting Agra.

During
Putin's visit last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that
even though India's options have increased, Russia will remain the
country's "most important" defence partner.

Modi had also
proposed that Russia should locate manufacturing facilities in India for
spares and components of defence equipment procured from it and said
that Putin had responded "very positively" to the request.

January 17, 2015

India may buy unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, from other
countries if the United States does not ease current export restrictions
on such aircraft, a key Democratic senator said on Friday.
Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, who will join President Barack
Obama during a trip to India on January 26, said he was concerned that
other countries could rush in to sell India the equipment it desires if
the United States drags its feet.
"This is going to be a space ... where other countries are moving
very quickly too," he told an event hosted by the nonprofit Atlantic
Council. "If the Indians can't find a partner with the United States,
they'll find one somewhere else.US aerospace and arms companies have been pressing the US government
for years to ease current tight restrictions on foreign sales of
unmanned vehicles, arguing that other countries such as Israel are
overtaking the United States in drone sales.
India, which is modernizing its military, is a big and growing
market for US weapons makers who are seeking foreign sales to help
offset declines in US defense spending.
Warner said he hoped that unmanned aircraft would be included as
part of a broad US push to expand defense ties with India but said he
was not aware of any specific initiatives to be announced during Obama's
visit.
US and Indian officials are trying to work out pilot projects for
joint production of drones and other weapons as part of the US-India
Defense Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI), a source familiar with
the effort said.
One drone project involves the RQ-11 "Raven" built by
AeroVironment Inc, a small US firm, but Northrop Grumman Corp, Textron
Systems, a unit of Textron Inc and General Atomics, a privately held
firm, are also seeking permission to sell their unmanned systems to
India.
The US government strictly controls foreign sales of larger UAVs
but has approved sales of unarmed systems such as the Raven, which are
used purely for surveillance to a range of countries, including
Uzbekistan, according to a US source.
Warner said he expected some announcements about joint defense
projects during Obama's visit but said he had not been briefed on
specific deals.
US officials are weighing options as they seek to expand defense
ties with India as Washington grows concerned about the extent of
Pakistan's efforts to crack down on militants.

The home ministry has approved
purchase of high-altitude shelters, of the kind used in the US, for
Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel posted in the inhospitable terrain along
the India-China border.

These high-altitude shelters, with heating systems backed by diesel generators
and interior lighting, will be a blessing for the paramilitary force which
serves in sub-freezing temperatures in rudimentary border outposts.

According to a senior official, the ministry is looking for private
manufacturers to provide trials of highaltitude shelters in field conditions at
forward border outposts in Ladakh.

The ministry has decided that the shelters must meet the US Berry Amendments, a
US law which mandates that the highest quality materials and components are
used for manufacturering the shelters.

"This is because the shelters
used in high altitudes have to meet the specific conditions posed by altitude,
peculiar weather, lack of oxygen, hostile environment and psychological impact
of these on human mind (psychokinesis)," says a home ministry document,
which approved such shelters for the ITBP personnel.

As many as 81% of ITBP's border posts along the 3,488 km mountainous border
with China are located above 9,000 feet and 46% of the border outposts get
completely cut off for several months
during the winter.

There are 32 ITBP outposts located between 9,000 and 12,000 feet, 57 outposts
are located between 12,000 and 15,000 feet and 24 outposts are located above
15,000 feet, with the highest outpost in Sikkim at 18,600 feet. Most posts see
sub-zero temperatures. The ministry has also specified that these shelters
should be easy to relocate quickly.